Quick facts for kids
Kenya
Nickname(s) |
Harambee Stars |
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Association |
Football Kenya Federation |
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Confederation |
CAF (Africa) |
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Sub-confederation |
CECAFA (Central & East Africa) |
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Head coach |
James Nandwa |
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Captain |
Michael Olunga |
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Most caps |
Musa Otieno (90) |
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Top scorer |
William Ouma (35) |
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Home stadium |
Moi International Sports Centre |
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FIFA code |
KEN |
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FIFA ranking |
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Current |
106 1 (7 February 2019) |
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Highest |
68 (December 2008) |
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Lowest |
137 (July 2007) |
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Elo ranking |
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Current |
108 2 (3 March 2019) |
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Highest |
60 (November 1983) |
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Lowest |
140 (August 2011) |
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First international |
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Kenya 1–1 Uganda 
(Nairobi, Kenya; 1 May 1926) |
Biggest win |
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Kenya 10–0 Zanzibar 
(Nairobi, Kenya; 4 October 1961) |
Biggest defeat |
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Uganda 13–1 Kenya 
(Uganda; 1932) |
Africa Cup of Nations |
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Appearances |
6 (first in 1972) |
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Best result |
Group stage (1972, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004 and 2019) |
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The Kenya national football team represents Kenya in association football. It is controlled by the Football Kenya Federation, the governing body football in Kenya, and competes as a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA). It is colloquially known as Harambee Stars and plays its home games primarily at the Nyayo National Stadium in the capital, Nairobi.
History
FIFA suspended Kenya from all football activities for 3 months in 2004, due to the interference of the government in football activities. The ban was reversed after the country agreed to create new statutes.
On 25 October 2006, Kenya was suspended from international football for failing to fulfill a January 2006 agreement made to resolve recurrent problems in its federation. FIFA announced that the suspension would be in force until the federation complies with the agreements previously reached.
Kenya qualified for the 2019 AFCON. The head coach at the time Sébastien Migné was appointed in May 2018, and since his appointment Kenya has climbed back into the top 100 FIFA ranked nations.
In May 2017, the Football Kenya Federation signed a 3-year partnership with kits manufacturer Mafro Sports to provide the kits for all national teams, as well as junior categories. The national team will use red jerseys for home matches, white jerseys for away matches, and green jerseys for matches played on neutral venues.
On 8 September 2018, Kenya earned a win over 4-time African champions Ghana, winning 1–0.
On the 8th of March 2021, the Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa and Odibets General Manager Dedan Mungai unveiled a partnership. The partnership was the first of its kind where the betting company Odibets would sponsor the Kenyan football team to prepare for 5 upcoming matches. The 5 million shilling motivation deal was set in place to cater for the team's wants and needs. While it was set as a continuous partnership, the initial donation of KSH 5,000,000 was made as a 1 time payment.
Recent results
2021
2022 World Cup qualification 10 November |
Uganda  |
1–1 |
Kenya |
Entebbe, Uganda |
|
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|
- Bayo
89'
|
https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/qualifiers/caf/match-center/400209484 |
- Olunga
62'
|
Stadium: St. Mary's Stadium-Kitende
Referee: Souleiman Ahmed Djama (Djibouti)
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2022 World Cup qualification 15 November |
Kenya  |
2–1 |
Rwanda |
Nairobi, Kenya |
|
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16:00 UTC+3 |
- Olunga
2'
- Odada
15' (pen.)
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https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/qualifiers/caf/match-center/400209481 |
- Niyonzima
66'
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Stadium: Nyayo National Stadium
Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique)
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2022
2023 AFCON qualification 4 June |
Cameroon  |
Forfeited |
Kenya |
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17:00 UTC+1 |
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https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/04/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/cameroon/kenya/3782981/ |
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Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association [1] |
2023 AFCON qualification 8 June |
Kenya  |
Forfeited |
Namibia |
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14:00 UTC+1 |
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https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/08/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/kenya/namibia/3782983/ |
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Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association [2] |
2023 AFCON qualification September |
Kenya  |
Forfeited |
Burundi |
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https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/19/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/kenya/burundi/3782986/ |
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Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association [3] |
2023 AFCON qualification September |
Burundi  |
Forfeited |
Kenya |
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https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/27/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/burundi/kenya/3782988/ |
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Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association [4] |
2023
2023 AFCON qualification March |
Kenya  |
Forfeited |
Cameroon |
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Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association [5] |
2023 AFCON qualification March |
Namibia  |
Forfeited |
Kenya |
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|
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Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association [6] |
Coaching history
- Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
Ray Bachelor (1961)
Jack Gibbons (1966)
Elijah Lidonde (1967)
Eckhard Krautzun (1971)
Jonathan Niva (1972)
Ray Wood (1975)
Grzegorz Polakow (1979)
Stephen Yongo (1979)
Marshall Mulwa (1980–83)
Bernhard Zgoll (1984)
Reinhard Fabisch (1987, 1997, 2001–02)
Christopher Makokha (1988)
Mohammed Kheri (1988–90, 1995, 2005
Gerry Saurer (1992)
Vojo Gardašević (1996)
Abdul Majid (1998)
Christian Chukwu (1998)
James Siang'a (1999–00)
Joe Kadenge (2002)
Jacob "Ghost" Mulee (2003–04, 2007–08, 2010, 2020–2021)
Twahir Muhiddin (2004–05, 2009–10)
Bernard Lama (2006)
Tom Olaba (2006)
Jacob "Ghost" Mulee (2007–08)
Francis Kimanzi (2008–09, 2011–12)
Antoine Hey (2009)
Zedekiah Otieno (2010–11)
Henri Michel (2012)
James Nandwa (2012–13, 2023-)
Adel Amrouche (2013–14)
Bobby Williamson (2014–16)
Stanley Okumbi (2016–17, 2018)
Paul Put (2017–2018)
Sebastien Migne (2018–2019)
Francis Kimanzi (2019–2020)
Engin Fırat (2021)
Source : RSSSF
Players
The following players have been selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Uganda and Rwanda on 10 and 15 November 2021.
Caps and goals are correct as of 10 October 2021, after the match against Mali.
The following players have been called up within the past 12 months.
Records
- Players in bold are still active with it.
Most appearances
Rank |
Player |
Caps |
Goals |
Career |
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1 |
Musa Otieno |
90 |
9 |
1993–2009 |
2 |
Jonathan Niva |
88 |
10 |
1965–1976 |
3 |
Allan Thigo |
81 |
11 |
1969–1978 |
4 |
John Nyawanga |
80 |
17 |
1965–1976 |
5 |
Dennis Oliech |
76 |
34 |
2002–2015 |
6 |
Robert Mambo Mumba |
72 |
13 |
2000–2009 |
7 |
Titus Mulama |
71 |
8 |
2001–2012 |
8 |
Francis Onyiso |
70 |
0 |
1996–2011 |
9 |
Wilberforce Mulamba |
68 |
14 |
1978–1988 |
James Siang'a |
68 |
0 |
1963–1975 |
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Top goalscorers
Rank |
Player |
Goals |
Caps |
Ratio |
Career |
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1 |
William Ouma |
35 |
66 |
0.53 |
1965–1977 |
2 |
Dennis Oliech |
34 |
76 |
0.45 |
2002–2015 |
3 |
Elijah Lidonde |
33 |
26 |
1.27 |
1950–1961 |
4 |
Ali Kajo |
26 |
32 |
0.81 |
1959–1969 |
Livingstone Madegwa |
26 |
49 |
0.53 |
1964–1972 |
6 |
Joe Kadenge |
25 |
63 |
0.4 |
1957–1970 |
7 |
John Baraza |
21 |
52 |
0.4 |
2002–2011 |
8 |
Michael Olunga |
20 |
45 |
0.44 |
2015– |
9 |
Daniel Nicodemus |
17 |
34 |
0.5 |
1963–1972 |
Mike Origi |
17 |
48 |
0.35 |
1990–2004 |
John Nyawanga |
17 |
80 |
0.21 |
1965–1976 |
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Competition records
FIFA World Cup
Final |
|
Qualification |
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Year |
Round |
Position |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
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1966 |
Did not enter |
Declined participation |
1970 |
1974 |
Did not qualify |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
8 |
1978 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1982 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
1986 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
1990 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
1994 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
1998 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
13 |
14 |
2002 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2006 |
12 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
13 |
18 |
2010 |
12 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
13 |
16 |
2014 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
11 |
5 |
2018 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
2022 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
2026 |
To be determined |
To be determined |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
74 |
24 |
18 |
32 |
82 |
101 |
Africa Cup of Nations
Year |
Round |
Position |
Pld |
W |
D* |
L |
GF |
GA |
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1957 to 1959 |
Not affiliated to CAF |
1962 to 1970 |
Did not qualify |
1972 |
Group stage |
5th |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
1974 to 1982 |
Did not qualify |
1984 |
Did not enter |
1986 |
Did not qualify |
1988 |
Group stage |
8th |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
1990 |
8th |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1992 |
9th |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
1994 |
Did not qualify |
1996 |
Withdrew |
1998 to 2002 |
Did not qualify |
2004 |
Group stage |
11th |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
2006 to 2017 |
Did not qualify |
2019 |
Group stage |
17th |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
2021 |
Did not qualify |
2023 |
Disqualified due to FIFA suspension |
2025 |
To be determined |
Total |
|
|
17 |
2 |
4 |
11 |
11 |
31 |
African Games
Year |
Round |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GS |
GA |
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1987 |
2nd |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
6 |
CECAFA Cup
- Winners: 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2002, 2013, 2017
- Runners-up: 1979, 1985, 1991, 1999, 2001, 2008, 2012
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Kenia para niños